Anyway, You're Coming to Jeju With Me
The voice of Doctor Baek Ah-rin on the other end of the line was unmistakably flustered — anyone listening would have heard it. But I was the one who should have been confused. This was what she'd wanted. Why was she panicking when I was offering to give her exactly that?
"What's with you? Why are you so flustered?"
"I mean... it's just that you, sunbae... traveling with me... haha..."
"You were the one who begged me to take you along."
"Excuse me? I did? When?"
"You downed a whole bottle of soju in one shot and demanded it. At the top of your lungs."
"Whaaaat?!!!"
That was right. Ah-rin had no memory of it whatsoever. The alcohol must have peeled every filter away and let what was sitting in her heart spill straight out.
"Ah...!! I...!! Hmm...!! That's... I... I can't!!"
"Can't what?"
"Closing the clinic? Are you joking? If we shut down out of nowhere, how much are the patients going to suffer?"
Suddenly Doctor Baek's professional conscience had kicked into overdrive.
"Even if we take a few days off, it won't be a problem. There's another surgical clinic right on the next block."
"That's... not the point..."
"If this were a general hospital, maybe I'd worry. But this is a private practice, plain and simple. And we haven't taken a single day off since the day we opened."
"Th-that's true."
"And we're not the only ones working here. The nurses have been at it too."
"Yes."
"So after eleven years of grinding, do we give the staff a vacation or not?"
"We... should."
"Good. Then it's settled. Next week — Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday — the clinic is closed!"
"......"
Doctor Baek Ah-rin went quiet for a moment.
"I'm... sorry, sunbae."
When she finally spoke, it was an apology.
"Don't be. If anything, I should be the one apologizing."
"What...? Why would you..."
"...There's a reason."
Yeah. This wasn't something you talked about over the phone. You sat down face to face for a conversation like this.
"Anyway, I already posted it on the clinic website. I'll make the official announcement at tomorrow's staff meeting."
"B-but sunbae... if we're closed that long, won't the regulars be unhappy...?"
"Regulars? At a surgical clinic? The weather's warming up, so fewer people are slipping and falling... and it's before the new school term, so kids aren't getting hurt as much. Statistically, this is our slowest stretch of the year."
"...Ah...."
"You already knew that, didn't you, Doctor Baek?"
"Th-that's right. Now that you mention it... I suppose so."
"See? This is the perfect window for a vacation. Right?"
"...Yes."
"So, Doctor Baek — anything else you want to say?"
"N-no."
"Good. Then we're going to Jeju Island together?"
"Wait... that's..."
"It's what you asked for."
"...I... I don't really remember... I must not hold my liquor very well."
"Don't lie. You think that just slipped out because you were drunk?"
"......"
"You've helped me so much. Because of you, I was able to raise my daughter well. That's all thanks to you, Doctor Baek."
"...Yes......"
"So I want to give you something you actually want."
"......."
"This is my way of showing my gratitude. You're not going to dismiss that, are you?"
"N-no!! How... how could I possibly dismiss your kindness, sunbae!! I wouldn't dare...!!"
She was making a whole production of it. Doctor Baek had always been like this. She put herself down and put me up on a pedestal. There was no reason I needed to be elevated just because I was her senior. That was simply who she was.
It might look like humility — like consideration for other people — but the self inside her was crumbling under the weight of it. I wanted this trip to help Doctor Baek... to help Ah-rin live a little more of her own life. I planned to talk with her. A lot. People who keep themselves in a straitjacket are usually people who never talk about themselves. I wanted to use this chance to let Ah-rin breathe a little easier. That was all.
"Anyway, is there anywhere on Jeju Island you've been wanting to see?"
"I... I'd like to visit Seogwipo. A friend of mine went, and she said the ocean views were incredible."
"Alright. Seogwipo it is."
"...Yes, sunbae."
"So you've given up, then?"
"Given up on what?"
"On throwing a fit about not wanting to travel with me."
"...Wh-when did I ever say that! I want to go! Traveling with you has been my dream, sunbae!!"
"...Now you're finally saying what you actually wanted."
"Ha... hmph!!"
The sound of Ah-rin clamping a hand over her own mouth carried clearly through the receiver.
"Haha... hahaha!!"
"D-don't tease me, sunbae!"
"I'm not teasing you."
"...Yes you are! You absolutely are!"
"I just like seeing this honest side of you, Doctor Baek."
"...!"
"Ah... I...!! How am I even supposed to respond to that......"
"Anyway, it's late. Get some sleep. See you tomorrow."
For a split second, the faint scream of a young woman drifted through the line. What was that? I pulled the phone away from my ear and listened, straining toward the other sound.
......
"Must've been hearing things."
I put the phone back to my ear.
"Sunbae? Sunbae, is something wrong?"
"No... it's nothing. I thought I heard a scream, but I must've imagined it."
"Ah... yes. That's a relief."
"I'll handle the itinerary, so you just clear your schedule and pack a change of clothes for the trip. Oh, and — you know this, right? Bring a swimsuit too."
"A-a swimsuit?? It's... it's winter right now?"
"You've never been to Jeju Island, have you?"
"Th-that's right."
"Seogwipo's resorts are excellent. The pools there run year-round. You can swim in water as warm as a hot spring."
"Ah......"
"If you don't swim, you're wasting more than half of what the resort costs. You have no idea how incredible it is, swimming with the ocean right there in front of you."
"...Ah......"
"This is hopeless. You asked to go to Jeju Island without even knowing that?"
"...Th-that was drunk me, speaking unconsciously...!"
"What's inside you is still you."
"Ugh... nngh......."
"Anyway, I'll make the reservations. Get ready. Buy a small carry-on too — checking a bag just eats into the time we have to actually enjoy ourselves."
"Yes... understood, sunbae."
"Good. See you tomorrow."
"Cha Eun-hyeok-sunbae!"
All of a sudden, Doctor Baek called my name at full volume.
"What's this, using my full name?"
"Thank you!!"
I didn't even need to see her. I was certain this girl had just bowed at a perfect ninety degrees into the phone.
"I didn't do this to hear you thank me, so don't."
"I'm grateful anyway!!"
"Are you really?"
"Yes. Completely, utterly grateful."
"Then let's make a promise."
"A promise? What kind?"
"When we get there, let's actually have fun."
"...Huh?"
"Forget about being sunbae and hoobae. Let's just enjoy ourselves. Leave every worry behind."
"...Sunbae......"
No more words came through the receiver.
"I'm hanging up. See you tomorrow."
"...Yes."
Beep.
The call ended.
I let out a long breath. Why was I so tense over something like this? It felt like I was sneaking around, doing something I shouldn't. It isn't that at all. So why did it feel this way?
Anyway, I'd worn down most of Ah-rin's resistance. All that was left now was the healing. I hoped that by the time we came back from the trip, she'd have set down a little more of the weight she carried. I was glad, at least, that the bits of psychology I'd picked up from my psychiatrist friend were proving useful.
That scream, though — what was that? It was quiet now, so it probably wasn't anything serious....
Yeah. I shouldn't stick my nose into other people's business. I couldn't even finish solving my own problems. No point getting tangled up in someone else's.
I switched off the light and lay down. The exhaustion finally caught up with me. I was going to sleep well tonight.
The next day, I gathered the clinic staff and announced next week's closure. For employees who'd been with us more than five years, I handed out extra cash envelopes, and across the board I issued two million won in vacation pay to everyone. Caught off guard by both the unexpected time off and the bonus, they all looked dazed — and delighted.
Everyone still working at this clinic was the responsible type. They'd followed me without complaint even though running a practice with no days off had to have been a burden, and I was grateful for that. I wanted this to be my way of paying that gratitude back. Once again, I offered my thanks to Doctor Baek Ah-rin and every staff member who had quietly covered for me while I, as director, had been sneaking days off here and there to raise my daughter.
"Ah... sunbae!"
"Ah, Doctor Baek."
"Just a moment... over here......"
She gestured for me to follow her into her office, away from the others.
"What's up?"
"Um... I was wondering... if there's anything I can help with... for the Jeju Island trip... the costs, or booking the lodging... that sort of thing."
Yeah. That was exactly the kind of thing Ah-rin would ask.
"I already told you. I'm granting your wish."
"Th-that's... I only asked you to travel with me. I never asked you to cover the costs!"
"Doctor Baek."
"Yes..."
"Stop making me feel guilty."
"Ah... I... that's not what I meant....."
"Because you covered the clinic, I was able to take my daughter to Jeju Island."
"...That's... something I was supposed to do. You're the director. It was only natural."
"That's nonsense. Most people would have refused."
"......"
"This clinic built its reputation because of you. Because of your effort, Doctor Baek."
"That's... that's because you were a specialist from Hankuk University..."
"You think a clinic that keeps closing at random is going to do well?"
"Well... no."
"You're the one who helped make this place solid."
......
Doctor Baek Ah-rin had nothing to say.
"Honestly... I can never win an argument with you, sunbae."
A laugh. It wasn't the sour kind that comes from losing a fight. It was a helpless laugh — the kind you let out when you've lost and don't even mind.
"Good. If you get it, then drop the arguing and just do as I say, alright?"
"Understood, sunbae."
"Then I can leave, right? A man and a woman lingering too long in a room together — that's how rumors start, you know?"
"Wh... whaaat?!"
Doctor Baek Ah-rin's face went scarlet in an instant. What? I'd only been joking...
"I-I'm sorry, sunbae!!"
She bolted from the room on the spot.
Did I... say the wrong thing? I had no idea. First things first — I needed to book the lodging and the flights. Next week was right around the corner. It was the off-season, but if I waited too long to reserve, we might not get the places we wanted.
"Better book everything now."
I headed straight into my consultation room. Luckily the morning appointments were light, so I could snatch pockets of time here and there to get the reservations done.